Friday, 15 October 2010
Past Heroes of Change: MAHATMA GANDHI
Gandhi's desire was simple: LET INDIA BE FREE!!!!!!!
Born: October 2, 1869
Martyrdom: January 30, 1948.
Achievements: Known as Father of India; he played a key role in winning freedom for India;
Gandhi, responded to the question: if you could change one thing in the world what would it be? he wanted more for his people, for his country, he wanted freedom, and more importantly he was willing to ACT to create the change.
In 1921, Gandhi gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. Gandhi's call ROUSED the sleeping nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the first time. Non-cooperation movement severely jolted the British government. But the movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign and undertook a fast for five days to atone for a crime committed by others.
Gandhi spent many years in and out of prison due to the unjustness of the British rule and their desire to silence him and his quest for freedom. After the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Gandhiji again became active in the political arena. British Government wanted India's help in the war and Congress in return wanted a clear-cut promise of independence from British government. But British government dithered in its response and on August 8, 1942 Gandhiji gave the call for Quit India Movement. Soon the British Government arrested Gandhiji and other top leaders of Congress. Disorders broke out immediately all over India and many violent demonstrations took place.
India finally gained its independence! but there was division between the Muslims and Hindus. Gandhiji worked ceaselessly to promote unity between them. This angered some Hindu fundamentalists and on January 30, 1948 Gandhiji was shot dead.
ONE MANS DREAM HAD THE POWER TO UNITE A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE TO FIGHT AND BELIEVE IN CHANGE.
MANY HAD BEEN BORN INTO COLONIALISM, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO SAY 'WHATS THE POINT IN FIGHTING, THIS IS HOW ITS ALWAYS BEEN' BUT THANK GOD ONE MAN WAS INSPIRED AND DARED TO PURSUE HIS DREAM.
NOTICE THE WORD 'FIGHT' IT WASN'T EASY BY ANY MEASURE ACHIEVING FREEDOM, BUT I BELIEVE SOME THINGS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR, AND EVEN THOUGH HE DIED IN THE END, HIS LEGACY OF FREEDOM FOR INDIA, FOR GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, AFTER GENERATION LIVES ON.
TODAY INDIA IS FREE!!
Abigail Okunlola.
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